That's her look for when nothing interesting is happening. When the Princess wants to make things happen, she uses her Basenji Power Stare, which eventually produces so much guilt in us sedentary humans that we take her for a good long walk. Walking, eating, and lure coursing are Lindy's favorite things to do, although she will cuddle if she has to.
Here we are, hiking in the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix. Connor did okay through most of the hike, but at the end flopped down under a prickly pear cactus and refused to move. Needless to say, after we coaxed him out, we carried him back to the car, lest he should crawl under something really nasty like a cholla. If a section of cholla (choy-uh) gets embedded in you, you have to hit it off with a stick. If you try to take it off with your hand, you'll just end up with lots of spines in your hand. I shudder to think what would happen if a dog got some cholla on its foot or leg, and then tried to bite the cholla off, embedding cactus spines in its tongue.
Last year a Rottweiler died on South Mountain - its owners did not realize how hot a dark dog gets on a desert hike. And this winter, during a cold spell, a woman got lost and died from exposure, because her light jacket could not keep her warm enough through the chilly desert night. Nature is ruthless here, even at her most beautiful moments. Moral: in Arizona, stay alert.
Lindy, of course, was still pulling eagerly at her lead even at the end of the hike, but even the Great Basenji Hunters like to relax in the Comfy Chair.
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Ode to My Crate (by Lindy the Wonder Dog) I'm always quite happy To take a short nap here Inside my wonderful crate. I curl up all snuggly Where no one can bug me - I think that it's perfectly great! |
Want to see some artwork featuring basenjis? Visit artfuldogger.com, featuring hand-crafted decorative objects for art and animal lovers. |
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All images and text ©2000 Tina Quinn Durham. |
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